Dame Emma Thompson has lambasted an animation studio she was due to work with for giving a “second chance” to a film executive accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women.

The Oscar-winning actress, 59, who pulled out of the film Luck, said that John Lasseter was presumably “being paid millions of dollars” for that second chance while employees who felt uncomfortable about his presence would have to quit.

Lasseter, 62, a co-founder of Pixar and director of the first two Toy Story films, was forced out of the Disney-owned company in 2017 after a sexual harassment scandal. He admitted inappropriate hugging and “other missteps”.

John Lasseter was forced out at Pixar in 2017 after a sexual harassment scandal

BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS

He was hired by Skydance Media to become head of its animation division. The studio is producing Luck, a comedy